As the Atlanta Falcons aim for a playoff berth, both head coach Raheem Morris and quarterback Kirk Cousins recognize the need for improvement in the veteran quarterback’s performance over the final three games of the season.
“He’s got to play better,” Morris stated following the Falcons’ narrow 15-9 victory against the struggling Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night. “Obviously, you’ve got to go back and look at everything. But he wants to play better, he’s got to play better, and we’ve got to find a way to get him to play better.”
Cousins had a subpar outing, completing 11 of 17 passes for 112 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. This performance follows a troubling stretch in which he recorded no touchdowns and eight interceptions over his last four starts. Notably, this game marked Cousins’ third-fewest completions and fourth-lowest passing yards in his 159 career starts.
“I think I need to play better. I don’t think that’s a mystery,” Cousins acknowledged, noting that he leads the NFL with a career-high 16 interceptions this season. “Every week you go through your process and plan to play your best, and this week will be no different.” When asked where he needs to improve, Cousins emphasized the importance of protecting the football.
“It’s always about decision-making so that you’re not putting the ball in harm’s way and not trying to be too aggressive,” he explained. Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million contract before the season, is determined to improve his performance as the pressure mounts.
With the Falcons currently one game behind the first-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South, the urgency is palpable, especially with rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. poised to step in if needed. “We’ve got everybody on our roster for a reason, right?” Morris remarked, with team owner Arthur Blank present. “We’ve got so much to get better at, and those things will always be discussed. That’s just the nature of the beast in football.”
Morris concluded, “It’s heavily discussed at the quarterback position because there’s only one guy out there. Our mentality is to find a way to win the next game. That’s just the mentality I’m going to have.”
Related topics
- Cardinals Lineman Jonah Williams Scores TD
- Lions Defense Overwhelmed by Allen’s Bills 48-42
- Watt in Wait-and-See Mode After Injury
